Rope-clamp.



F. VV. HOBDELL.

ROPE SLAMP.

APPLICANON FILED 1AN.5,1918{ 1278,93@ Patented sept. 17,1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

IN VEN TOR.

F. W. HOBDELL.

ROPE CLAMP.

APPLICATION FILED MN.5. 1918.

l ,278,93. Patented Sept. 17, 1918.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

IN VEN TUR.

fren 'cir WJ@ ded i T; ORNE Y.

" LI'L AS FREDERICK W. HOBDELL, OF DARBY, PENNSYLVANIA.

ROPE-CLAMP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 1"?, 1918.

Application led January 5, 1918. Serial No. 210,429.

f7o @ZZ whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK IV. HOB- nnLL, a citizen of the United States, residing a Darby, in the county of Delaware and State of Pennsylvania, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rope- Clamps, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to new and useful improvements in rope clamps, and has for its object to provide an exceedingly simple ahd effective device of this character, whereby a rope may be readily and quickly clamped thereby and held against accidental displacement.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will be relatively inexpensive in the cost of manufacture, yet strong and durable and capable of being used for clamping tent ropes to the ordinary pegs without the necessity of threading the ropes through the peg or an adjusting member.

lVith these endg in view, this invention consists in the details of construction and combination of elements hereinafter set forth and then specifically' designated by the claims.

In order that those skilled in the art to which this invention appertains may understand how to make and use the same, I 'will describe its construction in detail by referring by numerals to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, in whic Figure-1, is a perspective view of a tent showing the ropes thereof attached to the pegsA when provided with my improved clamp.

Fig. 2, is an enlarged side elevation of one of the rope clamps showing it mounted upon a peg, the latter being shown in section.

Fig. 3, is a frontl elevation of the rope clamp.

Fig. 4f, is a plan view thereof.

Fig. 5, is a rear face view thereof.

Fig. 6, 4is a Side elevation of the rope clamp showing a different peg attaching means.

Fig. 7, is a plan View thereof. v Fig. 8, is a front elevation of a slightly modified form of my invention.

Fig. 9, is a side elevation thereof.

Fig. l0, is a face view of the support. or body, the pivoted member being removed.

Fig. 1l, is a front elevation of a slightly modified form of my rope clamp.

Fig. l2, is a side elevation thereof, and

Fig. 13, isa perspective view of the pivoted clamping member. V 1

In carrying out my invention as embodied in Figs. l to 5 inclusive, 2 represents the body of my improved rope clamp consisting of a back plate 3 and bottom wall l projecting forwardly from the lower edge of the back wall at right angles theretoA and this bottom wall is concavo-conveX or arcuate transversely in cross section with the highest point projecting inwardly or upwardly. From the forward edge of this botom wall extends 'an upwardly projecting flange 5 at right angles to said bottom wall and this flange is concave-convex or arcuate transversely in cross section with the curve, projecting inwardly as plainly Shown in Fig. 4. From one side edge of the back wall projects an extension 6 having anV arcuate edge 7 and projecting from the front face of said extension adjacent the arcuate edge and following the curvature thereof is a guide 8 which is also arcuate in cross sec-tion with the cavity formed therein on the outer under side, so as to form a' guide for the rope entering the space between the back wall and flange.

A pin 9 is carried by the back wall adjacent its upper end and on this is mounted the pivoted member of the clamp jaw l0 and where the pin 9 is formed as an integral part of the back plate, a washer 1l may be placed on the outer end of the pin and then the latter headed to hold the parts in place.

Vhere the clamp is to be used for holding the ropes of tents, the same is preferably provided with an attaching rod or lug 12 carried by the back plate 3 and projecting from the rear face thereof and said attaching rod when in use is driven into the circular hole 13 of the peg 14 and becauseV of the rectangular shape of said attaching` rod, the rope clamp will be prevented from rotating, but in order to make the fastening more secure orpositive, I provide said back plate with prongs l5 'which project from the outer face of said back plate and enter the body of the peg when the clamp is attached thereto.

In practice, each peg with a clamp thereon is driven into the ground and a rope 16 carried by the tent 17 is passed through the Vchannel 18 between the back wall and flange, so that the pivoted clamping jaw 10 is moved to one side or away from the direction of the pull upon the rope 16, whereby the tendency is to move the clamping jaw 10 back to the center line where its free or inner end is in closest proximity to the inner face of the bottom wall 4, thereby causing said clamping jaw to bite into the rope and firmly clamp the latter between the bottom wall and the clamping jaw.

The clamping jaw 10 will work from either side of the center, but when used with tent pegs, as here shown, and the rope 16 might be at a steep angle, the clamp must be so positioned that the rope will first pass through or beneath the guide S, so that the strain upon the rope will be such that the clamping jaw will be moved toward the center instead of being lifted.

The peg attaching means illustrated in Figs, 6 and 7 is a metallic band, strap, loop, hoop or ring 25 formed integral with the back plate 3 and adapted to surround the peg and if said peg is slightly larger than the ring or tapered, the device may be driven on the peg so that no other fastening or retaining means is necessary and said ring will act as a binder for the peg to prevent the latter from splitting especially during the time thev peg is being driven into the ground.

In Figs. 8 to 10 inclusive I have shown a slightly modified form of my invention in which the extension 6 and the guide S are eliminated, while a different form of attaching means is provided which here consists of a screw 19 carried by the back plate and proj ecting from the rear face thereof. By constructing the rope clamp in this manner the same may be readily and quickly attached to an object as will be obvious.

A further modied form Vof my invention is illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12, wherein the back plate is provided ywith holes 20, so that the same may be attached to an object with suitable fastening devices, such as screwsV or nails.

The different forms of my device illustrated in Figs. 6 to 10 inclusive are particularly adapted for use as clothes-line fasteners and may be att-ached to a post, a tree or a fence and the rope run through from either side and firmly held between the clamping jaw and bottom wall.

As shown in Fig. 13, the clamping jaw 10 preferably comprises a hub 21 having a hole 22 therethrough for registration with the pin 9 and an integral fin 23, the opposite faces of which preferably converge toward its free or lower end.

Of course l do not wish to be limited to the exact details of construction as here-in shown, as these may be varied within the limits of the appended claims without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention what I claim as new and patentable 1. As a new article of manufacture, a rope clamp comprising a body having a channel at the lower or one end thereof, 'a guide offset from the body and in alinement with the channel and a pivote-d clamping jaw carried by the body and projecting into the channel.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a rope clamp comprising` a body having a channel at the lower or one end thereof, a guide offset from the body and in alinement with the channel, a pivoted clamping jaw carried by the body and projecting into the channel, an attaching rod projecting from the rear of the body and prongs also proj ecting from the rear of the body.

3. A rope clamp consisting of a back wall, a bottom wall projecting therefrom at right angles thereto, an upwardly projecting flange at right angles to the bottom wall, an extension projecting from one side of the back wall, a guide projecting from the eX- tension and a pivoted clamping means carried by the back wall having its lower or free end normally projecting into the space between the back wall and flange.

il. A rope clamp consisting of a back wall,

an integral bottom wall projecting therefrom at right angles thereto, a flange formed integral with the back wall and projecting upwardly at right angles thereto forming a channel between said flange and back wall, an extension formed integral with and proj ecting from one side edge of the back wall, an integral guide projecting from said eX- tension in alinement with the channel and a pivoted clamping member carried by the back wall and projecting into the channel short of the inner face of the bottom wall.

5. A rope clamp consisting of a back wall, an integral bottom wall projecting therefrom at right angles thereto, a flange formed integral with the back wall and projecting upwardly at right angles thereto forming a channel between said flange and baclr wall, an extension formed integral with and projecting from one side edge of the back wall, said extension having a curved edge, a guide arcuate in cross section and coinciding with the curvature of the extension, formed integral with said extension and in alinement with the channel, a pin carried bythe back wall adjacent its upper end and a clamping aw movably mounted on said pin with its free end projecting into the channel. 6. In a device of the character stated, a.

V from at right angles thereto, Said flange being arcuate transversly with the curve projecting inwardly, said flange forming a channel with the lower portion of the back wall, an extension formed integral with one side edge of the body and having an arcuate edge, an integral guide projecting from the extension adjacent the arcuate edge and coinciding with the curvature of said arcuate edge, said guide being arcuate 1n cross section with the curve projecting inwardly, thereby forming a groove in alinement with the channel, a pin carried by the back Wall and projecting from the front face thereof, a clamping member swingingly mounted on Said pin with its free end projecting into the channel and terminating short of the bottom wall', an attaching rod projecting from the rear face of the back wall and prongs also projecting from said rear face of the back Vwall and disposed about the attaching rod.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixed my signature.

FREDERICK l/V. HOBDELL.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five Vcents each, by addressing the Commissioner ot Patents, Washington, D. C. 

